Correlation of third-trimester thyroid profile with postpartum depression in rural population.

Abstract

Postpartum depression is a mental disorder which affects most of the adult women with major depressive symptoms. Increased thyroid profile levels and postpartum depression symptoms can effect on mother’s and child’s health. The aim of this study is to test whether there is arelationship between thyroid profile levels and postpartum depression.The design of this study is Correlational observational.A total of 200 patients having either one or two children with previous normal vaginal deliveries, attending the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBG) outpatient department between 30 to36 weeks were screened and 28 subjects selected for the study after satisfying inclusion criteria from the University Hospital. A written consent was taken from all the subjects before recruitment. The demographic data of all subjects such as age, period of gestation (POG), hemoglobin, thyroid profile and vitals were recorded at the time of recruitment. The Thyroid profile was checked at the time of recruitment byRadio Immuno Assay (RIA) kit and postpartum depression assessed by Edinburg postnatal depression scales (EPDS).T4 levels and EPDS scores are weak positively correlated and is statistically significant at p<0.05. The correlation btween T3 stimulating Hormone (TSH) with EPDS scores was weak negatively correlated and are not statistically significant at p<0.05.From the results we conclude that this study found that Thyroid dysfunction has a positive correlation with postpartum depression. Thus, thyroid screening during pregnancy may be useful to find out the association between thyroid levels and Postpartum depression. Keywords: Personal depression scale, Postpartum depression, Pregnancy, Thyroid.